Promises, Poppycock and Placebo: Pseudoscience in Action!
Those who ascribe to the profit-driven world of big-science book-learning might suggest that ...Pseudoscience is the appropriation and distortion of scientific terminology to validate a claim or assertion.
Pseudoscience is also this:
Gold is a superconductor, and as such it improves the transmission of electrical signals. Cells communicate via electricity. Knowing this, conclude that nanoparticles improve communication between nerve cells of the nervous system, and a more effective flow of electricity can alleviate stress and anxiety.
Renee, why would anyone use pseudoscience?
The answer is simple. They usually want to sell you something.
The 'something' can take the form of a physical thing or an idea.
They probably know that it doesn't do what they claim it does, or they have been conditioned to believe it based on anecdotal evidence because they've heard someone tell them 'it's been proven to work'.
Critical thinking is hard, but its rewards are endless.
Pseudoscience is easy to accept.
Meanwhile, science tries to explain things that are not obvious (if they were obvious, we wouldn't really need a scientific explanation for them). This makes science seem impossible and unreachable.
It takes a lot of work to develop an understanding of chemistry or biology, and it is not that easy to understand:
Gold has a high vibrational frequency, thus it is able to increase the vibration of the organism that consumes it.
Read the quote above one more time and see if you can make sense of it. What does any of that mean? It sounds 'sciencey', though, doesn't it? You'd be stupid not to want to increase your vibrations! Except it's made up.
It's a metaphysical doctrine. A belief without any basis in reality.
...but like, Renee, I know that there are vibrations in sound waves, and light and electricity and stuff.
You are right! Those are vibrations. And this is where the appropriation of scientific principles comes in.
because vibrations don't work that way!
Pseudoscientists will tell you things like "These magnets break up the water molecule clusters for better bioavailability" in hope that those big words could give you an impression that they both knowledgeable and scientifically accurate.
They use scientific language to distort and confuse in hopes that you simply accept them for sounding smart and buy whatever it is they are selling!
"This is a game, this is an export to people who don't know much science and don't know how science is done" Sam Harris
So you are, like, figuring out what SCIENCE is? OMG, you need an advanced degree to do that!
No, you don't... It's pretty easy! There are a few things to look for to spot a pseudoscientist looking to make a sale! Here are a couple of examples and questions to ask when you are presenting with wild claims that appear to good to be true (or any other claim for that matter!)
Its use as a "nervine" or therapy for nervous disorders was recorded by ancient Chinese and Indian alchemists
1) Does the pseudoscientist tell you that his cure is based on ancient wisdom or technology?
This old trick! He's attempting to fool you into thinking that whatever he's selling has been around since the dawn of time, and because of that it must be effective and have merit. This argument is a logical fallacy called "Appeal to Ancient Wisdom". The more recent the evidence, the higher the probability that it is accurate.
2) Who is reporting on the wondrous benefits of this product?
If you Google it, what comes up? Are the first search results from businesses that are profiting off this product? Do you find any worldwide news source or institution that doesn't have the product in its name promoting it?
Let's check.
Hmm... no peer reviewed articles? Oh, some scholar results came up, but if you follow them, you find that gold is very useful in medical imaging.
So it appears that it's just businesses trying to sell you the product! That makes me suspicious!
3) Does the pseudoscientist use words 'energy' and 'vibrations' when referring to anything except a sex dildo?
Gold has been known to possess a warm energy that brings soothing vibrations to the body to aid in the healing process
These words are completely meaningless.
They are made up and have no scientific basis. We are wandering deep into pseudoscience territory!
4) Does the pseudoscientist use words like 'big pharma', and 'western medicine' and make claims that their product/belief system is being suppressed by a Big Bad when they are questioned?
Pharmaceutical experiments are funded by the pharmaceutical companies to yield results the pharmaceutical companies want to see, and then doctors are bribed to prescribe them. That is not real science.
5) Does the pseudoscientist use anecdotal evidence or research from sources that have an obvious interest in the outcome?
Example, from a member of their group or company, their own blog, a newsletter with connections to 'natural and alternative healing modalities', or marketing copy from a business selling the same product.
We have extensive scientific and historical research as well as first-hand experiences to validate our claims. This is yet another testimonial to the effectiveness of the healing options we offer.
ORLY?
Your discrediting tactic does not stand up to the evidence we have collected.
They may eventually present you with some of their evidence, but make sure to check it's source, robusticity, and inherent bias.
Scientific research is still emerging regarding the incredible healing properties of gold nanoparticles and the mechanisms by which it functions, but [gold has been proven safe and effective throughout history.]( http://www.meridianinstitute.com/ceu/ceu25gol.html)
The link above takes the reader to an 'institute' dedicated to "researching the spirit-mind-body connection". The study it quotes is rife with phrases like " One small recent study demonstrated a possible positive effect of gold on cognitive ability." and "little is known about its physiological effects".
Pseudoscience works from a positive hypothesis and will say or do anything to support that hypothesis. Shoddy research and anecdotal evidence are the two main tools they will use to fool you. If their sources seem biased, it's probably because they are.
They are feeling uncomfortable because the burden of proof is on them! The more unreasonable the claim the greater the need for proof. However, they simply don't have any, so they will be desperate to invent or distract. Watch out! Eventually they will flip it and demand that YOU PROVE IT DOESN'T WORK!
7) If pressed pseudoscientists will demand you bring evidence that what they are selling doesn't work. They will also begin mudslinging.
Please provide any real evidence that this colloidal gold is harmful to people, and please show what evidence you have to negate the hundreds, if not thousands, of unsolicited testimonials.
You still have not provided any evidence beyond biased opinion that shows this is harmful, yet we continue to witness and accrue real life, first hand testimonials. Provide a better option if you have one.
You're hating on us for "making erroneous claims", and passing judgment without providing any substantiating evidence that this colloidal gold causes harm.
Again, there's nothing to be done for someone caught in cognitive dissonance. If you want to cling to your worldview in light of evidence to the contrary including first hand testimonials, that's your prerogative! Your mind is set and you're welcome to those opinions, but it is improper to allege "abuse" because someone has challenged your beliefs.
They will also call you narrow-minded and clouded by your own bias for wanting proof that their product works. How dare you not believe what they are telling you!
It seems your mind is already set and that you are not interested in considering challenges to your opinion. Given that you are quick to call this "abuse" and exercise what power you can for censorship, plus you are clinging to the "quackery" label (perhaps because it is clearly not endorsed by Big Pharma?). Nonetheless, here is some research.
They may tell you that you don't have an advanced degree so that you can't possibly understand the science well enough to disprove them and their 'research'.
So, Renee Nouveau has an advanced degree in chemistry and biophysics, right? because she, obviously downvoted that person as a result of her opinion based on appeal to authority, a classic logical fallacy. bring on the accountability, my logic is sound.
Now, I can’t comment on this because they are calling me out so I went to a Relevant Authority in logical fallacies and here’s what they have to say! “They misunderstand the meaning of appeal to authority fallacy. This fallacy actually means appeal to IRRELEVANT authority. When you refer to credible scientific sources/research (the best ones are peer reviewed or meta-analysis) or experts in the specific scientific field, it is not an appeal to authority. That's because you refer to RELEVANT authority. For example when you talk about quantum physics but you refer to Deepak Chopra, dentist or plumber, then this is an appeal to irrelevant authority fallacy” Fascinating!
8) When backed into a corner they will admit that it doesn't matter if it works, because they help people (bonus points if it's sick children ;( This is an appeal to emotion, to override your reason. Why, you are a bad person if you want children to stay sick!
If this is indeed pseudoscience, then it is healthy pseudoscience. You can't say the same for the many sickly victims of pharmaceuticals or prescription drugs.
This is proven less side effects given to any child in any hospital.
Again with the sick children!
This kid is sick of your shit
Sounds like circular reasoning fallacy to me! My medication is curing> How do you know that? > Because it cures people according to me
….and that you can buy it for $66 on their website!
So, now you've had an introduction to what pseudoscience looks like in action.
It seems like a lot of work.... this thinking about things and weighing all this evidence.
It can be. But if we want to live in a just, rational world it's a vital skill! Critical thinking and the independent judgment of the validity of ideas and claims is vital to anyone who considers themselves self-governing.
BONUS ROUND!
If you aren't sick of this metaphysical bullshit yet, watch Deepak Chopra muddle through quantum physics and check out Sam Harris ripping Deepak Chopra a new chakra. It gets good at around 7 minutes!
Imagine all the people,
just using common sense...
-Lennon, 2016
Many of the alternative medicine promoters will suggest that their modality is common sense. They will take the idea of simple is better in order to lead you away from traditional medicine in order to get your business.
Common sense is more along the lines of looking both ways down the street before crossing. When it comes to something as complicated as how the human body or mind works and could be cured of disease, common sense is usually of no use. There is no way to know without the scientific method what will work or not work.
Common sense, for many people, is "stay out of the cold or you will catch a cold", which seems reasonable on the face of it, but doesn't address how a virus works or will take hold in your body. If you never leave your house and interact with other humans you will absolutely never catch an airborne disease or a true flu that is carried by a virus and human interaction. So, a hermit could make a claim of never getting "sick" ( a misleading statement to start ) and not mention that they don't actually interact with other humans so naturally they never get sick.
During the winter more people get colds and flu. Is this because of the cold environment or because people are having more close contact? Common sense that we've accumulated from our non-scientific societies would say that it's due to the cold, because colds are caused by the cold wind. If there are no germs or virus, you aren't catching a cold or flu, right? We didn't always know about germ theory so we have become to think that it's related to some other factor and this hasn't given way after discovering germ theory.
Absolutely brilliant post. This kind of thing is everywhere these days. In fact the language of pseudoscience is so pervasive that non-scientific people even use it to describe actual scientific concepts which may make the confusion worse.
PMSL
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logic and doctorstrange ... how fitting! :)
There is an idea that reality isn't even real. Therefore... Magic must be real!
There is one place where the word "vibration" is viable, and has nothing to do with pseodoscience. It also has to do with your health. That area? Massage and physical therapy. But yes, they are probably going to try and sell you something, however, I don't think that vibration is going to be in the pitch. Because the vibration part is only one technique in the while arsenal, that is used to do the work. :-D
Excellent article!!! That changes from some posts I have read about this colloidal gold I have read on steemit so far! Thanks!
After my criticism of colloidal gold you said " all the websites with information I can find are non scientific websites this is not a proof but... in any case, I will not say much about that as I am not an expert
what I disliked in the post you are taking about is that it was a pure advertising for a commercial product "
I'm glad that you changed your mind! :P
I discussed with people in the meantime. Thanks to your article actually, Sorry i forgot about that...
While you may have some points in regards to some "snake oil" types. So called science is not all it's cracked up to be when so many studies are shut down when the funding source's bias and the emerging results don't line up.
Or when publicly funded studies are locked away from view behind high priced firewalls meaning that those who control access to the information controls the information.
There are biases on both sides of these arguments and the average public is left caught between the various claims to authority and left to make their own decisions based on what seems right to them.
The Man who always told the truth died young and not by natural death)
Really good article.
The only thing that gives me pause is that sometimes the "pseudoscience" can actually help, at least in limited cases. Chiropractic comes to mind as one example.
Alternative medicine that works is just called medicine. :D
Where may I find some of this medicine? :D
People fall for this again and again. People want your money and are willing to do anything to get it. Promising that a concoction of herbs and whatever will heal you is so much easier than doing something that actually works.
This should alarm any thinking person, but for some reason this is actually a popular modality. Why? In part because it's non-invasive and people don't like to go to doctors for a variety of reasons. Some valid reasons might be the fear of finding out what might be ailing them is very serious. Perhaps they had a painful experience at the hospital before and they don't want to experience it again. People want the easy, inexpensive and comfortable alternative and chiropractic offers that. You get a massage and actually human contact, while at your typical hospital you get to wait in line, pay a LOT of money, possibly get bad news, and are barely listened to because the doctor is forced to get you in and out as fast as possible.
The holistic approach is perfectly reasonable, because a typical hospital experience is at times a very cold and serious experience. People go to hospitals to die, some feel. And in a way that is true. It's all so uncomfortable and humans are repelled by discomfort.
I get it, I really do. Modern medicine is imperfect and people are looking for an alternative. Once they get on the internet they can find like-minded people and feel comfortable that what they are trying is validated by someone else. Unfortunately most people are not to be trusted and are trying to get your money with the least effort.
Do yourself and your family a favor and read this over real quick.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic_controversy_and_criticism#Ethics_and_claims
Take care
@doctorstrange I like you a lot :D
Thank you for the indepth comments! I think there is another post inside me explaining Pseduoscience isn't innocent. That's it's quite malicious and preys upon the suffering and desperation in a lot of sick people. Your comment that alternative 'treatment' is comfortable and inexpensive is a great point and certainly part of the allure!
It's also popular because it works.
While some of the early claims of Chiropractic had no merit much of what Chiropractors have done is cure people beyond just back pain. I don't like when Chiropractors make claims they shouldn't (and neither do the Chiropractors in my family) but it can do a world of good for ones body and that can, at times, fix problems that go beyond back pain.
It's popular for a variety of reasons, and one reason is that it appears to work.
So you freely admit this, yet still want to believe that it works? Aren't you being intellectually dishonest here? Cognitive dissonance preventing you from just giving up on chiropractic being a real healing modality?
Those chiropractors that make no outlandish claims and that don't charge incredible fees for what is basically massage are doing no harm and I can't fault them. However, they are benefiting from piggy-backing off of being thought of as a respectable medical professional. For those chiropractors that are staying within their scope of practice, once again, I'm all for that. But they aren't really healing anything unless it's related to placebo, adjunct therapies, such as massage or exercise, or known effective medical practice. The spine manipulation is a temporary buzz that people similarly get from cracking their knuckles. It doesn't heal anything.
Care to tell me what problems are fixed by chiropractic that wouldn't heal on their own?